Swap Your Pre-Workout Banana With THIS Food

For many years my "go-to" fuel was a banana. Thanks to bananas' easily digested sugars, they usually sat comfortably in my stomach and were convenient. The catch? I don’t really like bananas! In fact, when they're eaten alone, I sort of detest the taste and texture (especially the really ripe ones). But sometime last year, Medjool dates entered my life, and bananas have taken a backseat ever since. Why? Dates are incredibly easy in terms of digestion and convenience. Plus, they taste great.

Easy to Digest
Pull out the pit and three chews later of soft, sweet goodness you’ve got a great burst of energy. Thanks to the easily accessed sugars, dates cause little to no digestive distress. This means you can feel okay eating them literally as you’re walking out the door on a run or as midrun fuel.

In comparison to bananas, you get a high amount of sugar in a smaller portion of dates, which I’m a big fan of. This means I can eat one or two and feel like I’ve eaten virtually nothing (good-bye, weighted-down tummy), but have the energy I need to get going.

Turn dates into a more lasting meal by adding a bit of fat from coconut butter, coconut oil, or almond butter to each bite. You can smear each one quickly or make your own energy bite.

Convenient Real-Food Fueling

Joe Biafore/Getty Images

Another benefit is they are incredibly portable, and because of this they are now frequently my midrun fuel of choice. With less than 70 calories and 17 g of carbohydrate per date, they make a perfect swap for a gel (typically 90 calories and 23 to 25 g of carbohydrate).

Wrap a few in a small plastic bag or plastic wrap and consume in place of a gel.

I also love that dates are free from artificial ingredients such as corn syrup or maltodextrin, which are frequently seen in gels.

Nutritional Rowerhouse
Beyond easily digested carbohydrates, dates are rich in potassium and are a good source of calcium, iron, and magnesium.

Additionally, they are full of phytonutrients, which help strengthen our immune systems, which can be weakened by excessive exercise. Phytonutrients can help support faster recovery and protect our cells from free radical damage.

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